Multiposition electric switch



Nov. 10, 1964 w. A. DE SMIDT ETAL 3,156,790

MULTIPOSITION ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 8. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 INVENTORS WOODROW A. DE SMIDT CEDRIC' E. ZARWELL AT TOR NE Y Nov. 10, 1964 w. A. DE SMIDT ETAL MULTIPOSITION ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 8. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WOODROW A. DE SMIDT CEDRIC E. ZARWELL ATTORNEY Nov. 10, 1964 w. A. DE SMIDT ETAL 3,156,790

MULTIPOSITION ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 #20:, 7 n c 22a. /55 I X k, 2),, HAND i 300 L :1 OFF 7 1 3' 27 i :3 L 4-0 38 I: A a i} Lg" 2G i 42 /3s 7 2s 34 f i i c I 35 1 3 i T R 23 1 I? f I low Z8 s 43 32 INVENTORS B WOODROW A. DE SMIDT CEDRIC E. ZARWELL ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,156,796 MULTWOSHHQN ELEQTMC SWITCH Woodrow A. De Smidt, Whitefish Bay, and Cedric E. Zarwell, Shorewood, Wis, assignors to Allen-Bradley Company, Miiwanlree, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 3, H 61, Ser. No. 103,546 6 @laims. (Cl. zen-17 The present invention relates to a multiposition electrical switch, and having particular adaptability for use in con junction with a control station and arranged to provide multiple switching operations in association therewith, and which switch may include a separable base member containing a plurality of cooperating stationary and movable contacts in selected normal operating position; a support member arranged to include laterally movable operating elements for alternatively moving the movable contacts of said base member relative to their respective stationary contacts; a rotatable actuator supported by said support member and arranged to translate rotatable operation thereof to said laterally movable elements; and a laterally shiftable, releasable retaining means for said actuator; whereby said actuator retaining means may be positioned in a first operating position to permit the actuator to be releasably held in place in one of its several operating positions, and which may be shifted to a second operating position to permit the actuator to be releasably retained in another contact operating position.

Very often it becomes desirable to provide an electrical switch assembly or control station for devices, such as machine tool apparatus, wherein the station or switch is preferably convertible for use with different position ing arrangements. That is, one form may be a simple start and stop arrangement for a motor whereby a rotary switch may be moved from on to off position, and in another form, it may be desirable to provide the basic assembly for use in a manual, off, automatic arrangement. Devices permitting variable operating positions of switch actuators have been provided heretofore. One example may be found in the De Smidt et al. Patent No. 2,946,871, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. The device disclosed therein utilized a separate index plate secured by means of pins and screws and required loosening of the screws, lifting of the plate from the pins, rotating it and replacing it on the pins before again tightening the retaining screws. In addition, the construction of the prior art devices was not suitable for mounting in combination with the structure of a con ventional motor starter control station, or the like.

it is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a multiposition switch which may be changed from one operating position of its actuator to another position by a simple shifting of a selector plate by means of finger pressure, or if desired, by the application of a screw driver to one end thereof, but, in any case, without requiring dismantling of the switch components to make the desired change.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multiposition switch for mounting on the supporting structure of a device, such as a motor starter, and to thereby provide a plurality of operating arrangements therein to permit the device to be used either as a wholly manually operated device, or in the alternative, in a selective manual automatic arrangement, and with a choice of contact arrangements in the multiposition switch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multiposition switch having a base portion including a plurality of cooperating contact members, each arranged for an initial normal operating position, and which base is interchangeable with similar bases having variations in contact arrangements and being separably mounted on an actuator housing including a shiftable position-retainice ing means for selective operation of one or more of the cooperating contacts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows.

In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which there is shown by way of illustration one form in which the present invention may be embodied.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with portions broken away, of a motor starter mounted in an enclosure having a removable top partially open, and in which the selector switch of the present invention forms a part thereof.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the motor starter enclosure, wherein the cover portion is shown in closed position with a rotatable switch operating handle being placed in operating connection with the rotatable actuator of the multiposition switch of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the cover of the enclosure for the switch of PEG. 1, illustrating the operating handle having a reversible indicia ring for use in a three position embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 wherein the ring has been reversed to a two position designation for application of a handle therewith, and after adjustment of the shiftable indexing plate of the multiposition switch in accordance therewith.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the multiposition switch of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional View taken along lines 66 of FIG. 5 of the switch of the present invention, and wherein the indexing plate of the switch has been adjusted to operate in a three position arrangement to correspond with the relationship of the rotational operating handle disclosed in PEG. 3. In this case the contacts are in normally open position and the operating handle has been positioned in off position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken in the same plane as FIG. 6, but with the handle moved to hand position with one of the normally open contacts being moved to closed position.

FIG. 8 is a sectional View taken along lines 83 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the separable base portion of the switch corresponding to the plane of lines 5 4 of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are sectional views of the switch of FIG. 6 taken in planes of lines ]lltl of that figure and illustrating the relative position of the laterally shiftable index plate.

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan View of the rotatable operating member and illustrating the cam profile thereof and apertures for receiving the spring biased, operating detent members.

PEG. 13 is a side elevational view of the rotatable actuating member in engagement with a contact operating block and illustrative of the operational association between these members.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the multiposition switch of the present invention and illustrating each of its several parts in their relative operating relation.

FIG. 15 is a simplified wiring diagram of a motor starter, such as that disclosed in FIG. 1, and incorporating the multiposition selector switch of the present invention, and further being illustrative of two operating positions of the multiposition switch.

Referring first to FIG. 1 it will be observed that the multiposition switch A of the present invention may be readily embodied as a component of a motor starter B, or the like, along with a pilot light P for use in indicating r, if) the contact closed position of the starter B. The starter B comprises a stationary housing 1 and a removable cover 2, which cover may be removably fastened at the upper end thereof by meansof a stationary retaining pin 3 staked or welded to the housing ii. The dot-dash lines indicate the closed position of the cover with its locking lug 4 adjacent to the locking lug 5 of the housing ll. The cover also includes a rotatable operating handle indicated generally by the reference character H, and which will hereinafter be described. For the present, it will be' observed that the knob or handle H is spring loaded to bias an operating tongue 6 for engagement, as shown in FIG. 2, with a cooperating slot 7 (see FIG. 5) of the actuator of the switch of the present invention. Thus, the knob or handle H is self-orienting, and upon closure of the cover 2, the tongue 6 will automatically drop into the slot '7 upon its first rotative operation.

In general, the operating components of the starter B illustrated in view of FIG. 1 include a removable, contact are hood cover 8, a coil cover 9 including an auxiliary hold-in contact portion in at its upper end. The auxiliary contact portion has a spring biased lever 11 for operation of t e contacts concurrently with the operation of the main contacts. The motor starter B further includes protective overload relays, one of which is desi nated by the referen e numeral 12 having a reset lever 13 and a thermal element housing 1 5. It will be further observed that the starter elements are permanently fastened to a mounting plate 15 for tongue-in-groove connection with the housing ll along with an upper fastening screw (not shown). A transformer T is mounted on the bracket To which also serves to support the switch A and the pilot light P.

Before continuing with a detailed discussion of the construction of the multiposition switch A, attention should be directed to MG. 15, which figure diagra1nmatically illustrates a simplified wiring scheme, wherein the multiposition switch A is shown in two of its contact operating positions indicated by the reference characters I and Il relative to a starter B. In this case, the device is used for starting a three-phase motor M and is connected to a source of power comprising the three power conductors 2t), 21 and 22, through branch lines 29a, 21a and 22a in respective connection therewith. Starters of this type generally comprise a solenoid including a movable plunger or armature 23 and an operating coil 24. The plunger 23 is arranged to concurrently actuate three normally open contacts 25, 2s and 27 upon energization of the solenoid coil 24 through the multiposition selector switch A of this invention and an electrical control device C. One side of each of the contacts 25, 26 and 2'7 is respectively connected to the branch lines 26a, 21a and 22a, the solenoid coil 24 is connected through one of its leads to a normally closed contact 28 of an overload relay, indicated generally by the reference character R and comprising an operating fusible element 29, and through its other lead to the normally closed contact 30 of another overload relay R in operable connection with a fusible element 31. The relay R comprising the contact 28 and the fusible element 2h is joined by means of a conductor 32 to one terminal of the motor M, the fusible element 29 and the normally open contact 25, the branch line 2% to the power conductor 20. The opposite terminal of the motor M, through its conductor 32b is overload protected by means of the fusible element 31 connected through the connector 33 at one side thereof, and is arranged for power connection through the normally open contact 27, branch line 22a and power conductor 22. The central phase terminal of the motor M is connected through its conductor 34 to the normally open contact 26, branch line Zia, and thence to the power conductor 21. Thus, the solenoid coil 24 may be energized through the normally closed contact 3 1 of the relay R" including this contact connected through conductor Lilia to the multiposition switch A of the present invention.

thermostat, float switch, pressure switch, or similar device,

and is shown here in a normally open position. The other stationary terminal 37 of the multiposition switch A may be connected to the device C by means of the conductor 38. The position I, in this case, is illustrative of a Hand, Off, Automatic device, and may be set to either position by means of the rotatable actuator ill including movable contacts 41 and 42 engageable with stationary terminal contacts 35 and 37, respectively. Thus, movement of the actuator dd to Hand or'rnanual position permits the starter B to be actuated for operation of the motor M through its solenoid coil 24 directly, by bypassing the control device C. Placing the actuator (id in the Auto position permits the starter B to be operated through the medium of the control device C.

The multiposition switch A of the present invention permits a selective operation of the switching mechanism which is schematically diagramrned in FIG. 15 by alternately positioning a shiftable push plate member of the switch in either of the diagrammed operating positions I or H, as will hereinafter be described. The shiftable member permits the switch to be operated in two positions, one of which permits an on and oil operation with no bypass of the control device C. Thus, the movable contact member will be shifted to its IT position for direct releasable engagement with the contact terminal 37. The terminal of the movable contact 4-3 is connected with the conductor Fatia as in the case of the arrangement in the position I.

in order to more clearly describe the operating components and function of the switch of the present invention, attention is directed to the views of FIGS. 2-14, inclusive. The. various components of the multiposition switch and their relative positions with respect thereto are best illustrated in the exploded view of FIG. 14, wherein the separable base member 5d comprises an insulating member with a hollow interior arranged to receive mating contact members therein. The contact members may be varied to provide a combination of normally open or normally closed positions, and are shown in the present construction to comprise two normally open sets including stationary contacts 51 and 52 secured to the base at one end by means of rivets 53 (shown more clearly in FIG. 9), and being further formed with a hook-like end portion for receiving the upstanding margin of the base 5d and being tapped to receive terminal screws 54 and 55 respectively. The movable contacts 5d and 57 are respectively fastened to the base 50 by means of rivets 58, as may be more clearly shown in the views of FIGS. 6 and 7. It will be further noted that the rivets 58 also secure terminal members 59 and 60, which are electrically connected with the movable contacts 56 and 57 respectively. The terminals 59 and 60 are formed and tapped to receive terminal screws 61, which in this case are electrically connected with one another by means of the shunt member 62. The movable. contacts 56 and 5'7 are formed with a backward bend to provide a leaf-spring type of contact for alternative engagement with their respective stationary contacts 51 and 52, as will be hereinafter described. Both the stationary and movable contacts may take on diiiering forms (not shown) to provide a variety of arrangements permitting either both contacts to be in the normally open position (as shown), both contacts in normally closed position, or either of the sets of contacts in one or the other normal operating position. Thus, the base member so may be provided with a selection of contacts and is interchangeable with other base members for cooperation with the remaining parts of the multiposition switch to be described.

Again, referring to the exploded view of FIG. 14, it will be observed that an insulating cover member 65 is arranged to be positioned over the hollow interior of the base member 54 and includes a pair of push bar apertures 66 and 67, in addition to a series of detent-receiving apertures 68, the function of which will later be described. Positioned directly above the cover plate 65 is a shiftable push plate 69 arranged to be slidably moved transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the cover plate 65, the relative movement of which is shown in FIGS. and 11. The push plate 6% includes two sets of indent apertures 79 and 70a, respectively. The apertures 7t and 76a define two separate, arcuate travel paths for receiving detent members operated by a rotatable actuator to be later described. Each of the arcuate paths is of the same radius, but with their respective centers spaced from one another. The radii are also equivalent to that of the apertures 68 of the cover plate 65.

Right and left hand push bars 71 and 72, respectively, are provided for engagement with and operation of the movable contacts 56 and 57, respectively and are slidably received in the guiding apertures 66 and 67 of the cover plate 65. Each of the push bars 71, 72 include laterally extending ears 73, which act to restrain the push bars from slipping through the apertures 65 and 67. The push bars are further formed to provide inclined cam surfaces 74 and 75 respectively (see also FIGS. 12 and 13), which cam surfaces are respectively engageable with the inclined cam surface 76 and 77 of the recessed right and left hand cam surfaces 78 and 79 of the rotatable actuator member 55, respectively, as will hereinafter be described. Returning to FIG. 14, spheroidal detent members 81 and 82 are arranged to respectively engage diametrically opposed apertures in the sets of apertures 70 and 7th: of the shiftable push plate 69, depending upon the shiftable position of the push plate 69, as will be later described. The spheroidal detent members 81 and 82 are spring biased towards the push plate 69 by means of springs 83 and S4, respectively. The opposite ends of the springs 83 and 84 are arranged to be respectively received in the openings 85 and 86 of the actuator 84 (see FIG. 12).

The upper marginal edge 87 of the actuator 8% is recessed to define a circular shoulder for receiving the cover 88, and is rotatably slidable therein. The actuator 8t projects through the cover 88, as shown in FIG. 2 to permit the slot 7 to be engaged by the tongue 6 of the handle H.

The entire assembly is held together by means of tubular rivets 89 received in the respective openings 90 of the cover 88, 91 of the cover plate 65 and 92 of the base member 50. The riveted assembly of cooperating switch components and their relationship to one another is clearly illustrated in the views of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. The hollow bore of the tubular rivets 89 is arranged to receive mounting screws 93 (see FIG. 2) for assembling the multiposition switch A to the bracket 16 when the switch is adapted for mounting in conjunction with a motor starter B or the like. The bracket 16 includes tapped openings for receiving the screws 93.

As an added convenience, a reversible index ring 95 is provided for use with the operating handle H, as shown in the views of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Thus, when the shiftable push plate 69 has been moved to its 3 position, comparable to position I of FIG. 15, one side of the ring 95 will be exposed for identification, as shown in FIG. 3, to indicate the Hand, Off, Auto positions. The ring as may then be reversed for use with the alternative position 2 of the plate 69 (comparable to position H of FIG. as shown in FIG. 4. The handle H is held in removable operating relationship with respect to the cover 2 by means of the retaining nut 96.

It will be apparent from the above that the multiposition switch A of the present invention provides a convenient arrangement for indexing the various operating components from one position to another in a simplified manner without requiring the use of tools or removal of parts for the selection of variations in circuitry controlling the operation of a motor starter or the like.

Operation of the multiposition switch A may be described in connection with the views of FIGS. 10 and 11, wherein the transversely shiftable push plate 69 may be moved from one of its positions to another by simple fingernail pressure at the edge of one of the tabs 97 slidably received in the respective grooves 98 of the cover The plate is shown in its position 3 in FIG. 5 with the indicia 3 being exposed as an indicator exteriorly of its groove 98. Thus, when the push plate 69 is pushed to the 3 position the indent apertures 7% thereof will be positioned in register with the apertures 68 of the cover plate 65. The spring biased spheroidal detents till and 52 will then be readily moved concurrently with the rotatable actuator St) for seating engagement in the aligned openings 65, 53. The three aligned openings correspond to the Hand, Off, and Auto selective arrangements of the operating handle H and movement of the handle will cause the detents 51 and 82 to roll out of one opening into another for releasable locking engagement of the detents in the respective aligned openings 68, 7%. It will be apparent from FIG. 11, that when the push plate 69 has been pushed to its 2 position with the indicia 2 exposed the openings 7% will then be placed in register with the two outer openings 63 of the cover plate to permit the seating of the respective spheroidal detents 81 and 82 in diametrically opposed relationship therewith. In this position, the indexing ring 95 on the cover 2 will be reversed by the electrician to the position shown in FIG. 4, which is an Off and On position when heat changes the wiring to correspond with position II of the diagram of FIG. 15.

As the rotatable actuator 84 is rotated to the respective positions above described by operation of the operating handle H, its cam surfaces 78 and 79 will obviously be rotated therewith. At a selected distance of travel the inclined cam surface 76 will act against the surface 74 of the push bar 71 and thereby cause the movable contact 56 to engage its stationary contact 51. When rotated to the Hand position, as shown in FIG. 3 (after positioning the push plate 69 in its 3 position), the movable contact 57 will be caused to engage its stationary contact 52 as shown in FIG. 7. Movement of the handle H to the Auto position of FIG. 3 will cause the leaf spring movable contact 57 to leave its stationary contact 52 and alternatively cause the movable contact 56 to engage its stationary contact 51 through the action of the push bar 72 and the inclined cam surface of the actuator 8%.

In the case of the two position arrangement, wherein the push plate 69 has been moved to its position 2, the contacts of the switch will be wired as in the diagramrned circuit position II of FIG. 15 with one of the contacts remaining disconnected from the starter circuit. Thus, the detents 81 and 82 will be moved only to the two outer aligned openings 7%, 68. The On position may operate the circuit through the pair of contacts 5t, 56 to thereby permit the control device C to be directly connected to the starter B automatically, without a bypass circuit as in the I position of FIG. 15.

It will thus be apparent that the present invention provides a simplified, easily assembled and facilely operated selector or multiposition switch which permits a translation of a normal rotational motion to a linear operation of movable contacts through the medium of cam surfaced push bars individually engagable with the movable contacts of a separable and interchangeable 3,1 earns base member. In addition, the switch construction provides a convenient releasable latching means in the form of spheroidal detent members engagable with indent apertures, the selection of which is provided by a slidable push plate for placing the indent apertures in alignment or register with apertures of an adjacent plate-like memher, and which shiftable member may provide a plurality of arcuate circumferentially spaced apertures for accomplishing this purpose, the path of travel of said detent members describing an arc concentric with the circular disposition of registering apertures on the said adjacent plate-like member.

We claim:

1. In a selector switch, including an insulating base member comprising stationary contacts, movable contacts engageable with said stationary contacts, and terminal means connected to each of said contacts, the cornbination therewith of: means for selectively actuating said movable contacts into and out of engagement with the respective stationary contacts and comprising a rotatable operator, movable contact actuators engageable with the said respective movable contacts; means for translating rotary motion of said operator to linear movement of said actuators and their movable contacts; a spring biased detent member movable with said operator; a manually operated, laterally shiftable, indexing push plate, said plate being shiftable from a first to a second indexing position and including spaced sets of indent apertures engageable with said detent member, each set of said apertures being disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship in an arc corresponding to the path of travel of said rotatable operator, the centers of the respective arcs defined by the said sets of indent apertures being longitudinally spaced from one another; whereby longitudinal movement of said push plate to its first operating position will shift the centers of the sets of indent apertures of said push plate to position a selected set of indent apertures in register with the arcuate path of travel of the said detent member for releasable seating engagement of said detent member in said apertures upon operation of said rotatable operator to selected operating positions, and whereby movement of said push plate to its second operating position will place another set of its indent apertures in register with the arcuate path of travel of said detent for releasable seating engagement with said detent to provide a second selection of operating positions of said rotatable oper ator.

2. In a selector switch, the combination of: an interchangeable insulating base member including stationary contacts, movable contacts engageable with said stationary contacts, and terminal means connected to each of said contacts; a cover member for said switch fastened to said base member; a pair of reciprocably movable insulating contract actuators; a rotatable operator including means for translating alternative linear motion to said contact actuators upon rotation of said operator in opposed rotative direction; a spring biased detent supported and transported by said rotatable operator; a shiftable indexing push plate arranged to be moved from a first to a second indexing position and including spaced sets of indent apertures, engageable with said detent, each set of said apertures being disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship in an arc corresponding to the path of travel of said rotatable operator, the centers of the respective arcs defined by said indent apertures being longitudinally spaced from one another; whereby movement of said push plate to its first operating position will shift the centers of the sets of indent apertures of said push plate to position a selected set of indent apertures in register with the arcuate path of travel of said detent for releasable locking engagement therewith upon operation of said rotatable operator to selected operating positions, and whereby movement of said push plate to its second operating position will position another set of its indent apertures in register with the arcuate path of travel of said detent for releasable seating engagement with said detents to provide a second selection of operating positions of said rotatable operators.

3. In a selector switch, the combination of: an interchangeable insulating base member including stationary contacts, movable contacts engageable with said stationary contacts, and terminal means connected to each of said contacts; a cover member for said switch fastened to said base member; a pair of reciprocably movable insulating contract actuators engageable with said movable contacts, said actuators each being biased for movement in a direction towards said cover member and each including a cam follower surface; a rotatable operator includin oppositely disposed arcuate cam surface engageable with the respective cam follower surfaces of said contact actuators, said cam surfaces each defining a planar surface portion terminating in an inclined cam surface, said inclined surface portions being inclined oppositely from one another to provide alternative reciprocating movement to the respective contact actuators upon rotation of said operator in opposed rotative directions, said planar surfaces respectively permitting the contact actuators to be released from actuation of said respective movable contacts upon sliding engagement therewith by the respective actuator cam follower surfaces, and a spring biased detent supported and transported by said rotatable operator; a shiftable indexing push plate arranged to be moved from a first to a second indexing position and including spaced sets of indent apertures, engageable with said detent, each set of said apertures being disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship in an arc corresponding to the path of travel of said rotatable operator, the centers of the respective arcs defined by said indent apertures being longitudinally spaced from one another; whereby movement of said push plate to its first operating position will shift the centers of the sets of indent apertures of said push plate to position a selected set of indent apertures in register with the arcuate path of travel of said detent for releasable locking engagement therewith upon operation of said rotataable operator to selected operating positions, and whereby movement of said push plate to its second operating position will position another set of its indent apertures in register with the arcuate path of travel of said detent for releasable seating engagement with said detent to provide a second selection of operating positions of said rotatable operators.

.4. In a selector switch, the combination of: an interchangeable insulating base member including stationary contacts, movable contacts engageable with said stationary contacts, and terminal means connected to each of said contacts; a cover member for said switch fastened to said base member; an insulating guide plate interposed between said cover and said base members, said guide plate defining guide apertures and a set of accurately spaced indent apertures; a pair of reciprocably movable insulating contact actuators received by said guide apertures and engageable with said movable contacts, said actuators each being biased for movement in a direction towards said cover member and each including a cam follower surface; a rotatable operator including oppositely disposed arcuate cam surfaces engageable with the respective cam follower surfaces of said contact actuators, said cam surfaces each defining a planar surface portion terminating in an inclined cam surface, said inclined surface portions being inclined oppositely from one another to provide alternative reciprocating movement to the respective contact actuators upon rotation of said operator in opposed rotative directions, said planar surfaces respectively permitting the contact actuators to be released from actuation of said respective movable contacts upon sliding engagement therewith by the respective actuator cam follower surfaces, and a spring biased detent supported and transported by said rotatable operator and engageable with said indent apertures; a

manually operated, laterally shiftable, indexing push plate, said plate being shiftable from a first to a second indexing position and including spaced sets of indent apertures, each set of said apertures being disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship in an arc corresponding to the path of travel of said rotatable operator, the centers of the respective arcs defined by said push plate indent apertures being longitudinally spaced from one another; whereby longitudinal movement of said push plate to its first operating position will shift the centers of the sets of indent apertures of said push plate to position a selected set of indent apertures in register with certain of the indent apertures of said guide plate for releasable seating engagement of the detent in said registered apertures upon operation of said rotatable operator to selected operating positions, and whereby movement of said push plate to its second operating position will place another set of its indent apertures in register with certain of the indent apertures of said guide plate for releasable seating engagement with the detent to provide a second selection of operating positions of said rotatable operators.

5. In a selector switch, the combination of: an interchangeable insulating base member including stationary contacts, movable contacts engageable with stationary contacts, and terminal means connected to each of said contacts; a cover member for said switch fastened to said base member; an insulating guide plate interposed between said cover and said base members, said guide plate defining guide apertures and a set of arcuately spaced circular indent apertures; a pair of reciprocably movable insulating con-tact actuators received by said guide apertures and engageable with said movable contacts, said actuators each being biased for movement in a direction towards said cover member and each including a cam follower surface; a rotatable operator including oppositely disposed arcuate cam surfaces engageable with the respective cam follower surfaces of said con-tact actuators, said cam surfaces each defining a planar surface portion terminating in an inclined cam surface, said inclined surface portions being inclined oppositely from one another to provide alternative reciprocating movement to the respective contact actuators upon rotation of said operator in opposed rotative directions, said planar surfaces respectively permitting the contact actuators to be released from actuation of said respective movable contacts upon sliding engagement therewith by the respective actuator cam follower surfaces, said rotatable operator including a re-entrant bore in the inner surface thereof, a coil spring in said bore and a spheroidal detent seated on said spring biased outwardly of said bore and transported by said rotatable operator; a manually operated, laterally shiftable, indexing push plate, said plate being shiftable from a first to a second indexing position and including spaced sets of circular indent apertures and engageable with said detent, each set of said apertures being disposed in circtunferentially spaced relationship in an arc corresponding to the path of travel of said rotatable operator, the centers of the respective arcs defined by said push plate indent apertures being longitudinally spaced from one another;

whereby longitudinal movement of said push plate to tain of the indent apertures of said guide plate for releasable seating engagement of the spheroidal detent in said registered apertures upon operation of said rotatable operator to selected operating positions, and whereby movement of said push plate to its second operating position will place another set of its indent apertures in It) register with certain of the indent apertures of said guide plate for releasable seating engagement with the detent to provide a second selection of operating positions of said rotatable operators.

6. In a selector switch, the combination of: an interchangeable insulating base member including stationary cont acts, movable contacts cn ageable with said stationary contacts, and terminal means connected to each of said contacts; a cover member for said switch fastened to said base member; an insulating guide plate interposed between said cover and said base members, said guide plate defining guide apertures and diametrically opposed sets of arcuately spaced indent apertures; 21 pair of reciprocably movable insulating contact actuators received by said guide apertures and engageable with said movable contacts, said actuators each being biased for movement in a direction towards said cover member and each including a cam follower surface; a rotatable operator including oppositely disposed arcuate cam surfaces engageable with the respective cam follower surfaces of said contact actuators, said cam surfaces each defining a planar surface portion terminating in an inclined cam surface, said inclined surface portions being inclined oppositely from one another to provide alternative reciprocating movement to the respective contact actuators upon rotation of said operator in opposed rotative directions, said planar surfaces respectively permitting the contact actuators to be released from actuation of said respective movable contacts upon sliding engagement therewith by the respective actuator cam follower surfaces, and diametrically opposed, spring biased detents supported and transported by said rotatable operator; a manually operated, laterally shiftable, indexing push plate, said plate being shiftable from a first to a second indexing position and including two oppositely spaced sets of indent apertures engageable with said detents, each set of said apertures being dis posed in circumferentially spaced relationship in an arc corresponding to the path of travel of said rotatable operator the centers of the respective arcs defined by said push plate indent apertures being longitudinally spaced from one another; whereby longitudinal movement of said push plate to its first operating position will shift the centers of the sets of indent apertures of said push plate to position a selected set of indent apertures in register with certain of the indent apertures of said guide plate for releasable seating engagement of said etents in said registered apertures upon operation of said rotatable operator to selected operating positions, and whereby movement of said push plate to its second operating position will shift the centers of the other set of its indent apertures to be in register with certain of the indent apertures of said guide plate for releasable seating engagement with said detents to provide a second selection of operating positions of said rotatable operators.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,909,585 Jacobi May 16, 1933 2,255,552 Bluemle et a1. Sept. 9, 1941 2,334,538 Bryant Nov. 16, 1943 2,341,837 Andrews Feb. 15, 1944 2,521,561 Batcheller Sept. 5, 1950 2,686,851 Sanda Aug. 17, 1954 2,752,464 Seeger June 26, 1956 2,765,383 Cooper Oct. 2, 1956 2,776,348 Korry Jan. 1, 1957 2,988,612 Hercules June 13, 1961 3,009,029 Bodenshatz et al. Nov. 14, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 156 790 November 10 1964 Woodrow A, De Smidt et a1.

, It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent req'liring correction and that the said Letters Patent-"should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 38 for "heat" read he column 7, line 54, for "contract" read contact Signed and sealed this 22nd day of June 1965 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 156 ,790 November 10, 1964 Woodrow A. De Smidt et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the :above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent -'should read as corrected below.

Column 6-, line 58 for "heat" r'ead he column 7, line 54, for "contract" read contact Signed and sealed this 22nd day of June 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Altesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

2. IN A SELECTOR SWITCH, THE COMBINATION OF: AN INTERCHANGEABLE INSULATING BASE MEMBER INCLUDING STATIONARY CONTACTS, MOVABLE CONTACTS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID STATIONARY CONTACTS, AND TERMINAL MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID CONTACTS; A COVER MEMBER FOR SAID SWITCH FASTENED TO SAID BASE MEMBER; A PAIR OF RECIPROCABLY MOVABLE INSULATING CONTRACTS ACTUATORS; A ROTATABLE OPERATOR INCLUDING MEANS FOR TRANSLATING ALTERNATIVE LINEAR MOTION TO SAID CONTACT ACTUATORS UPON ROTATION OF SAID OPERATOR IN OPPOSED ROTATIVE DIRECTION; A SPRING BIASED DETENT SUPPORTED AND TRANSPORTED BY SAID ROTATABLE OPERATOR; A SHIFTABLE INDEXING PUSH PLATE ARRANGED TO BE MOVED FROM A FIRST TO A SECOND INDEXING POSITION AND INCLUDING SPACED SETS OF INDENT APERTURES, ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID DETENT, EACH SET OF SAID APERTURES BEING DISPOSED IN CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP IN AN ARC CORRESPONDING TO THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID ROTATABLE OPERATOR, THE CENTERS OF THE RESPECTIVE ARCS 